England’s double trouble

Boos rang out at Wembley for the second time in four days as Per Mertesacker’s header condemned England to back-to-back home defeats for the first time in 36 years.

England held their own for the majority of the first half, but Germany goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller was nothing but a spectator until Andros Townsend struck a post during the hosts’ first real threatening effort just before the hour.

Despite the lack of attempts on Germany’s goal, defensive worries will be England manager Roy Hodgson’s worry during the four-month break from international football.

Just like on Friday, a visiting player was allowed to beat his marker to the ball and head into the England goal with relative ease.

Mertesacker lost his marker and nodded home Mario Gotze’s cross towards the end of the first half, just as Alexis Sanchez had done on Friday when Chile won 2-0.

Had it not been for Joe Hart, who performed superbly on his return to action, Joachim Low’s men could have had four.

The fact that this was a German side shorn of the likes of Philipp Lahm, Mesut Ozil and Manuel Neuer says much about how much work Hodgson has to do to make top sides fear drawing England in Brazil.

England were not as bad as they were against Chile, but other than an odd flash of brilliance from Townsend and Wayne Rooney, there never looked to be any danger of the home side coming away with anything.

Hodgson was mocked by the Germany fans towards the end of the match as they sang “Football’s coming home”, and the England boss now has the unwanted tag of being the first man since Don Revie in 1977 to lead the nation to successive home defeats.

At least England avoided slipping behind early on as they did last Friday and there were plenty of positives.